EA Sports is planning to “increase” players’ NIL payments “from $600 to $1,500 for their inclusion in the upcoming College Football 26 video game.” Players who opt in “will also receive a Deluxe Edition of the game,” a carryover from the compensation system for College Football 25. As was also the case last year, “some athletes will receive additional compensation to serve as brand ambassadors to promote the game.” In total, more than 14,000 players opted into College Football 25, and the NIL of more than 11,000 players was used. OneTeam Partners has a multiyear deal with EA Sports to negotiate the game’s group licensing rights. In February, a new NIL group called Pathway Sports & Entertainment began obtaining the video game NIL rights of players, paying $1,500 up front, and around 1,000 players have signed with the firm. A representative for EA Sports said Pathway’s actions “did not impact EA’s decision” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/18).
